Mike Leavitt on Drugs

Director of the E.P.A.; former Republican UT Governor

Drug Courts are working; expand them statewide

One of the most sinister destroyers of families and communities is drugs. Drug courts are a heartening sign that we can turn back the ravages of this sinister trend. It used to be that offenders were sentenced to hard time.
Now, those who go to drug courts are sentenced to change their lives. And the good news is, it is working. Of those who complete Drug Court, 92% are rehabilitated. We need to expand drug courts statewide.

Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Utah legislature
, Jan 16, 2001

More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War.

Leavitt adopted the National Governors Association policy:

To reduce the presence of illegal drugs, drug-related organized crime, and the adverse effects of drug and alcohol abuse in society requires a comprehensive strategy involving federal, state, and local governments. The Governors believe that one of the most severe public health threats is the recent rise in substance abuse among children.

The Federal Role The profits from illicit drug trafficking can be effectively used to help state efforts to dry up the demand for these drugs. The nationís Governors urge the President and Congress to fully fund drug and alcohol abuse education, drug courts, treatment, prevention, and law enforcement efforts, including the initiative to combat and clean up methamphetamine production laboratories, at the state and local levels of government.

Intensified Eradication and Interdiction Federal funding for use of the National Guard in drug and border enforcement deserves continued support. The Governors urge
the President and Congress to utilize the role of U.S. military forces in interdiction efforts.

High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program. The HIDTA program provides additional federal funds to those areas to help federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations invest in infrastructure and joint initiatives to dismantle drug trafficking organizations. Governors support the HIDTA initiative and urge Congress to continue supporting the program.

The Federal Role in Reducing International Drug Trafficking. The nationís Governors urge the Administration and Congress to significantly tighten procedures for certifying foreign countries for eligibility to receive U.S. aid based on their cooperation with U.S. surveillance, interdiction, and eradication efforts.

Drug Legalization The nationís Governors believe illicit drug legalization is not a viable alternative, either as a philosophy or as a practical reality.

States should make drug policy, not feds.

Leavitt signed the Western Governors' Association resolution:

Western Governors agree that states, not the federal government, are in the best position to understand the myriad of drug related issues facing their citizens and to initiate and implement drug policy strategies that will combat the substance abuse problems facing their communities.

Western Governors support effective law enforcement initiatives and behavioral accountability. Partnerships between enforcement and treatment programs (or efforts) need to be strengthened and supported to enable behavioral changes.

Western Governors recognize the escalating costs of incarceration and welcome effective common sense options within the criminal justice system that result in lessened drug abuse, healthier communities, and decreased criminal activity.

Western Governors appreciate the unique problems confronting our communities from increased production, distribution and abuse of methamphetamines. The Governors will continue to attack this problem aggressively on several fronts, including enforcement of current criminal laws and expansion of treatment and intervention programs.

Western Governors support sentencing laws that retain individual accountability for criminal conduct while administering proportional punishments that are fair and just.

Western Governors support efforts to staunch the proliferation of illegal intravenous drug use. Common sense strategies aimed at protecting communities against discarded and potentially contaminated injection drug paraphernalia should be explored. Furthermore, the Governors encourage reform initiatives that will help and encourage injection drug users to obtain information, treatment, detoxification and social services.